Category Archives: sex abuse

Optional Celibacy

CNS picked up and translated a piece from Bolivia, delaing with the most currently newsworthy scandal there, a Jesuit priest who had abused at least eighty-nine boys and worse, of course: it was covered up. (Bishop Eugenio) Cóter gave an … Continue reading

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A Pope Benedict XVI Legacy

Pundits from different camps in the Church continue to weigh in on Archbishop Ratzinger’s leniency with four accused sex offenders in 1977-82. What does it mean for Pope Benedict XVI and his legacy as a church figure? As an administrator … Continue reading

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What Should The Pope Emeritus Do?

It’s been a few days since an unsurprising negative report published on mishandling abusers in Germany’s München archdiocese. That a diocese would uncover priests behaving badly? This happens. That the usual methodologies would surface: secrecy, reassignment, lather, rinse, repeat? Also … Continue reading

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Different Headlines

Waking up this morning, I noticed a difference in the lead phrases reporting on the Munich archdiocese’s report on sex abuse and its cover-up 1945-2019. In secular media, headlines zeroed in on a period in the middle of those years, … Continue reading

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$380M Plus Seats

I think women gymnasts are on the right track here. I heard that some money was left on the table in exchange for representatives on various committees: A series of nonmonetary provisions will make the victims stakeholders at USA Gymnastics … Continue reading

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American Football, Still King

That NFL coach, a presumed family man, still without a win, partying with young women in a bar. You have to wonder what these guys are thinking. The wonder extends even beyond the football team itself in North Carolina where … Continue reading

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Starke Worte

In other words, “strong words” from the laity at the opening of Germany’s synod. Anger expressed at four bishops and the refusal of Pope Francis to grant resignations. From Crux: (B)efore discussions began on the agenda, the leadership decided to … Continue reading

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Loss Of A Sense

Preparing Pope John Paul II’s apostolic exhortation on reconciliation and penance for this site, I’ve noted his assessment of a “loss of a sense of sin,” this, as of 1984. I’m more convinced than ever this is a misdiagnosis of … Continue reading

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Gymnasts Go To Washington

A sex offender embedded in the US Olympic system was bad enough. Yesterday and today, media mainstream and otherwise is all over the sensational testimony of abuse survivors who anchored some of the most amazing Olympic teams in history. McKayla … Continue reading

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The Wrong Person?

Every so often, I would encounter a person who dropped out of the Confirmation process in the parish. The reasons varied. Usually it meant the young woman or man was taking their commitment seriously to do reflection on what the … Continue reading

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On My Bookshelf: Letter to a Suffering Church

My boss gave me a copy of Bishop Barron’s book. It’s a quick read–about an hour. It covers all the bases: victims, survivors, clergy, bishops, and outraged laity. The author’s name will get this book attention, sales, and reads, but … Continue reading

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Not An Exit Strategy

I read this story where Cardinal Turkson is bothered by the cloud hanging over the Church. Turkson told attendees he glimpsed the impact of the scandals during the 2012 International Eucharistic Congress and the 2018 World Meeting of Families, both … Continue reading

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Moral Heterodoxy

Buffalo looks on track to be the next Kansas City/St Joseph and Minneapolis-St Paul, having one or two bishops removed from office. The metropolitan bishop in New York seems to be engaged in an investigation. In addition, the auxiliary bishop … Continue reading

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Pope Benedict’s F

I noticed a letter from Pope Benedict XVI released last night. I took a brief look at it, then spent a bit more time with it today. It’s a frustrating read. I understand complaints about 1968, and about moving forward … Continue reading

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Not Surprising

Many keystrokes over another sex-and-cover-up revelation, and I admit I was surprised to see the surprise over it, as reported here at Crux. That people in power impose their will on others in the Church canonically and intellectually is no … Continue reading

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